Category Archives: Discipleship

There is a warning from our blessed Savior that all of His faithful disciples must heed lest they fall into the trap of arrogance, pride and self-righteousness. It is the cautionary counsel that informs the spiritually aware not to make their faith into a show, or a matter of theater for others to see. (Matthew 6:5-18) What is done in secret, He admonishes, is done for God to take notice of, it need not be seen by others.

Yet what does that really mean? What does it mean and what effect is it meant to have on the life of the faithful and the devoted given in a life to Christ?

Every now and then when faith is displayed for the world to see, that question seems to arise as those words of Christ as quoted. We see it even today amidst our society as the public displays of devotion of some are shunned and sought to be ushered away, making it almost sound as if that humility before the God of our creation is something shameful. How then do we answer that question in a spiritually aware way, and how do we reconcile the proper degree of piety with the marvels of the wonders of God’s blessings we want nothing more than to show the world?

As with all the teachings handed to us by the Divine Word of our Lord, we must allow for Scripture not only to guide us, but to interpret itself for us. There is nothing hypocritical, nor is there any degree of arrogance in displaying your faith for the world to see. In fact, without the works we do, meant to be given in love to others as a sign of devotion to Christ, (John 13:34-36), our faith stagnates and dies. (James 2:14-26) Grafted to the tree of life, our spirits, given to God, are meant to bear fruits. These are meant to be seen, they are meant to be gifts from us to others that we may edify and nourish the whole being of those around us in need.

So clear is Christ on this matter that the next verses (Matthew 6:19-24) warn of us of storing our treasures, of hoarding them deep from sight. What greater treasure have we than the faith that saves us in the redemption that it offers unto us?

At the core of Christ’s teaching is not to hide our faith away, as if it would be sinful for us to display it. If it were there would be no greater hypocrite and sinner than the perfect Son of God whose blameless life made way our path on high. What our Savior tried to demonstrate was a lesson about the self-righteous judging of others based on faith. It meant to teach us a deeper lesson about how we must look at ourselves and look at others, never elevating ourselves above them, living a life devoid of love while claiming to understand the heart and mind of our God.

In humility we are meant to live in service to one another, caring for each other as we care for ourselves and our own spiritual growth, and wellbeing. This cannot be done by locking our faith away from sight, just as surely as it cannot be done with judgmental eyes and scornful tongues.

As a faithful disciple of Christ show your faith, not as a point of pride but as the sign of your humility before a God who calls on you to live a life in service to others, to strengthen and edify those around you. Remember the world will always judge you for it by a different standard than it judges itself, but you are not given over to those assessments. No, by the power of the Spirit, you are given to grace in faith to a loving God who has set the example before you in His beloved Son given for you and your salvation. Our God gives us an armor that is meant for the righteous battles for faith, and like any armor it cannot be hidden away unless it is not worn, and that is when the truly devastating wounds pierce us.

Be not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ, for it is the power of salvation (Romans 1:16) and let none tell you it is shameful to carry forward into this world, for it is the strength of endurance, and the hope of our love in the wonders of God’s Spirit through us.

Ultimately, for as much control as we may give God in our lives, for as much as we may say that He leads us, in free will, we are defined not by faith but by the worth we place on it in the love that we have. For though it is our faith that ultimately saves us, it is love that “covers a multitude of sins.” (1 Peter 4:8)

Over the ages, considerable time has been spent debating how one truly becomes the most effective disciple of Christ, the way that one can most successfully use their faith. After all, it is James who reminds us that our faith, if it is without works, is dead. It holds not the power to save us because it has grown as stagnant, as hard and as hollow as our hearts. Our works, they represent the spirit and the soul of our faith. (James 4:14-26)

Let us consider that for a moment. In Mere Christianity, C.S. Lewis wrote, “You don’t have a soul. You are a Soul. You have a body.” You see, the soul and the body represent a special relationship with each other. Though one may be able to exist without the other, the body is ultimately created as a vessel for the soul, yet it is not the body that defines the soul, but rather the soul that gives its value to everything the body does, and is. Faith can exist without works, yet those works, much like the soul to the body, give faith its inherent value, its intrinsic worth in the most basic and fundamental of ways.

For faith then to hold substance it must be the vessel of our works, not only bearing its fruits but containing them, carrying them, and offering them as the means by which we edify, strengthen and uplift others. Faith, to hold significance, must be expressed by a life given in love to others. Without it, we can speak with tongues, we can seek to understand, to fathom the mysteries that surround a great and mighty God, and eloquence can drip from our mouths in defense of faith, yet it is the shell of what it must be because it gains nothing and offers less. (1 Corinthians 13:1-13)

How then do we love? How then do we serve as the effective disciple? This itself is easily answered by our blessed Savior Himself, “Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.… whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.” (Matthew 25:31-46) It is to look at the world, to see the need around you with clear eyes, and, as Christ Jesus Himself had done, answer the call in patience, kindness, gentleness and self-control.

Though the ultimate act of love was the sacrifice of that Lamb of God who took away the sins of world, that was one example of Christ’s love amongst so many as great as it was. His ministry, His life would be eventually defined by that singular act of love in service to us, and yet it was a road paved by every act of healing, each act of giving, and the meaning that was behind it. It was a path that was laid down by His rejection of evil, hatred, slander and bitterness as we are taught the new commandment: to love one another as Christ Himself loved us. (John 13:34-35)

In the end, nothing can save us short of the faith that we have. Yet it is the character and the nature of our faith that it is the God who judges the heart who holds a power over us. Consider rightly the Lord’s admonition to the prophet, “My people have committed two sins: They have forsaken me, the spring of living water, and have dug their own cisterns, broken cisterns that cannot hold water.” (Jeremiah 2:13) Are we, as the disciples of a living God to define our own faith, and thereby seek to build our own vessels for it, ones that seek to hold faith but are cracked and broken, with the dwindling waters it holds stagnate? Or are we to pour forth living waters with fresh springs of the Lord that quench the longing thirst of the spirit and the soul?

Let your faith be a vessel for love and the works thereof. See the world as it is, a place in desperate need of healing and hope, and let the soul of your faith shine as the means of love for others. In this way we can be the effective disciple, the effective believer God and Christ intend for us to be through the power and the strength of the Spirit working through us.

Romans 12:11 Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord.

When doing good for others, we shouldn’t be doing it out of some sense of obligation or the idea that we’ll gain standing with God if we do good works. The same is true of when we serve the Lord. It should be a joy to serve others if we are really doing it with the right motives.

If we say that we’re serving God, but we complain or grumble about what we’re doing, then we don’t exactly come across as serving out of joy. What message does that send to those who are watching? This doesn’t mean to put on a fake smile either. If you’re serving out of obligation and have no real joy or zeal in doing it; what are you left to do?

Search your heart. Pray that God would convict you where you’re lacking in ferver that He might ignite a fire in you to do good. Study the Scriptures, seek God’s will, lay aside your own pride and approach Him with a humble heart. You’ll find that joy will come as you serve if you do it with the right motivation and with the help of the Holy Spirit.

Romans 12:10 Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor.

Have you ever been part of a church that just didn’t feel like it was really living out the purposes of God? When that happens it often starts with a lack in the love department. If Christians can’t love each other, the fellow members of the body of Christ, then there will be no effective ministry.

Paul’s marks of a true Christian reflect not just how a Christian should act, but how Christians should treat each other. These were not instructions on how to treat people “out there”, but how to treat people “in here” first. Practicing the love of God and doing good works starts among family and then it spills out into the rest of our relationships. We must first love and serve our fellow believers.

This is one of the key reasons to belong to a local church fellowship. A church provides the opportunity to love and serve those who share a faith in Christ before going out and doing it among the people of the world. A church is a place to be equipped for ministry, and that starts with love and service from and toward your fellow Christians. Besides that, Christian unity is best perfected within the context of a gathering of believers who make up a family.

Love what is good, hate what is evil, love and serve your Christian brothers and sisters.

Romans 12:9 Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good.

What are the marks of a true Christian? We may sometimes wonder how to answer that question, but fortunately for us, the Apostle Paul already did in his letter to the Romans. Paul lays out a criteria for the true Christian. It’s not another set of rules to follow, and it’s not all-inclusive, but it’s worth taking a look at.

It’s no surprise that this outline of a true Christian starts with love. A Christian without love is ineffective and doesn’t present a very good witness. Paul commends his friends in Rome to be genuine in their love, to hate what is evil, and to hold on to what is good. This is good advice, but sadly not what many of us think of when we define the Christian life.

Let love be genuine. In the American church especially there is a tendency to put on a show that isn’t genuine when it comes to love and acceptance. We want people to believe that we care about them even when we don’t. But that’s not Christian love. That’s hypocrisy. Let your love be genuine. Work at it. If you’re struggling with showing someone love, focus on their good points and act out of that.

Hate what is evil. Again, to pick on the American church, we have become very much a part of the culture around us, even in our churches. We embrace the world’s things, even when they contradict the way of God. The only think we’re told to hate as a command is evil and sin. Instead we often love what is evil and hate what is good. That has to change.

Hold on to what is good. Keep focused on the things of God. Love the things that fit His character, follow after the things that please Him. This is the beginning of effective Christian living that presents a witness for Christ that others will want to know more about.

Ephesians 4:14-15 so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ,

What is the goal that a disciple should aim for? There are many things we need to do, and much that God has already done, but what are we striving for in the end? What does God want from us?

To boil it all down into one simple thought: God wants us to grow to be more like Jesus. He wants this so that we can fulfill His purposes for us. He created us with intent and He wants us to live up to that. He made us alive in Christ and He wants us to use that life for Him.

But in order to do what God wants from us, we’ve got to move beyond just being saved sinners. We’ve got to solidify ourselves with sound doctrine so we don’t believe every little thing we hear. We’ve got to learn God’s character so that we know His will. We’ve got to grow in fellowship with Him and grow in our faith.

In a disciple’s life, stagnation is not an option. We were chosen for holiness, even before the foundation of the world. We have been given lives to live on purpose, for God’s glory.

Matthew 24:14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.

The whole world? Then the end will come? It’s God’s desire that everyone would turn to Him and be saved. He doesn’t want anyone on this earth to perish and to be without Him for eternity while they suffer in hell. But He leaves the choice to us. But before anyone can receive or reject the Gospel, they have to hear it.

There are still people on this planet who have never heard the Good News of Jesus Christ. They don’t know that there is a way to God through the forgiveness of their sins. They don’t know there’s atonement, propitiation, imputation, or any of that other theological stuff. They’re in the dark spiritually. And we have to reach them.

We’re given the Great Commission because God’s calling if for us to reach out to the entire world. We have to tell every man, woman and child, every language group and tribe, about the message of Jesus the Messiah. They have to know and we have to reach them.

Pray. Pray that the people groups we’ve never encountered will be found and that missionaries will be sent into the population. Pray that languages will be translated quickly and that Bibles will be printed for the message to be taught. Pray that supplies will be plentiful and that the workers will be many. Pray for them and pray that we reach them. For the glory of God.

Matthew 28:19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,

How do we make disciples? Most of us probably know how to make converts; we share the Gospel. If someone responds to the Good News of Jesus Christ, there has been a rebirth. A new Christian has been made. But has a disciple been made? How do we know?

A very well known disciple-maker has said that if a person is reading God’s Word daily, praying with his or her spouse, obeying God, and sharing his or her faith at every opportunity, you can be pretty sure you’ve made a disciple. Discipleship is not simply about behaviors and disciplines, however. The Fruit of the Spirit? A disciple should be showing those characteristics. It won’t all happen overnight, but you can tell when someone is growing more mature and when they’re not. Sadly, most Christians today are not growing and not becoming more like Jesus. They’re just sitting on the bench, waiting for Him to come back.

But what do we do to make disciples? How do we get people off the bench? The most essential element in disciple-making is relationship and time. You’ve got to share one-on-one time with a person to make a disciple. Classes and theological training are good, but caring for the person and talking to them directly has more impact. Probably second most important is modeling discipleship. You can’t make a disciple if you aren’t living as one. Preach what you practice. Encourage, love, pray with, study with, and be there for people and you will make disciples.

Matthew 28:19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them int the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,

Disciples make disciples. It has to be so. Jesus commanded it. There is nowhere in Scripture where God indicates that salvation is the end of the road for a believer. There is nowhere that we can even infer that faith is a private matter. Jesus said to go out into all the nations and make disciples. Those are pretty simple instructions to understand. Go. Make disciples. Baptize. Teach. He wants us to reach the world for God’s glory.

In order to reach the entire world, we’ve got to multiply. We’ve got to make disciples right here at home. Training, relationships, conversations, coffee, crisis, sharing, caring…it’s all part of helping others to grow in their spiritual walk with Christ. It’s not just the job of pastors and teachers to make disciples. It’s a calling for all of us. The Great Commission is for all believers. Multiplication is necessary to the mission of the Church.

Will you go? Will you make disciples? Will you teach them? Trust in God along the way and He’ll make sure you succeed.

John 13:34-35 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

A simple truth: You cannot be a disciple of Jesus Christ and not love other people. Some think they can love God but not love people and this couldn’t be further from the truth. God created people and He created them each with a purpose. You are included in that. You are to love those other people.

Jesus never asked His disciples to do anything that He wasn’t willing to do Himself. He commanded that we love, but He also modeled love. He showed love to the scum of society, the outcasts, the poor, the sinners. The people that were rejected by society were loved by Christ. And that’s our example to follow. Loving the unlovely. It’s not easy, but it’s required. And so is loving other believers.

No subject is more talked about, sung about, portrayed in the arts, or philosophized than love. Why? Because God wired us for it. He created us to love and be loved. When we don’t have love, we’re not living the lives He intended for us. This life only works if there’s love. People can only know God if there is love. It’s up to us to show it.